I know it's still a bit too early to get excited, but aside from a few water logged areas on a few holes (which I assume are from plugged drains), the course is as dry as I can ever remember for March.  I remember a few years back we had no snow on the ground at the end of February and my face lit up just thinking that if it got just a little warmer we could be playing in March!!  It was just a week later when we got a storm that dumped 2ft of snow.  It was a crushing blow to my spirit, and would be another month and a half before my clubs made to the back of my car that year.
 
This year though, having a few streaks of unseasonably warm weather, the only snow that remains are scattered patches under the shadows of trees or along a few creek banks.  As I was walking along yesterday I could hear water racing through the woods, so I made my way into the trees to catch a look.  Leafless branches and brush exposed the meandering creek bed, and I found myself awed by the strong current.   I hardly give this creek a second thought during the golf season, but I'm glad I did today.
 
As I worked my way out of the brush and back onto the course I noticed that some of the dead birch trees had been cut down.  The landscape looks different, but I'm sure there was some fear that they might just fall over.  I don't know much about trees, but birch seem very fragile.  As I wandered along I picked up some birch debris that had made its way to the rough and tossed it back in the woods.
 
I was surprised to see that some of the stationary ponds are still trying to melt their coating of ice, but I wasn't surprised to see sand traps full of animal tracks.   I only saw 1 deer, but the "evidence" that they are around is all over the place.  I also appreciated the chirping birds and 2 squirrels I saw racing around.
 
As I walked a couple of holes backwards I was reminded about how different something can appear when you look at it from a different perspective.  Walking back up #12, I didn't realize how downhill it was going forward...I mean I knew it was, but seeing it, and walking it, I'm really glad we don't have to play it backwards!  And it was as I was walking up that last fairway I decided to renew my goal of trying to break par for 18 holes this year.
 
Before I got back in my car I took a few deep breaths and then took a moment to be grateful that in just a few weeks I'll be able to bring my clubs with me to the course.  Yellow or green, warm or cool, the golf course is where everything is beautiful to me.  I can't wait!
 
PS...Two weeks until the Masters...woo HOO!!

Filed under: Spring, goals, Golf